MIDNIGHT RIOT (Pol Proc/Para-DI Peter Grant-London-Contemp) – 1st in series – Ben Aaronvitch Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut. But Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter’s ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny. Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.
Brian – Good – Enjoyed it even thought it did get rather ridiculous. It was very entertaining and the author had a lively manner. He would read another by the author Christine – DNF – She loved the writing and the characters, but she just couldn’t relate to the magic. Corona – G+ - It was a lot of fun. Reminder her of Butcher’s Harry Dresden series. She would definitely read another. Linda F – VG – Read it in 2011; she loves fantasy so the book was in her sweet spot. Liked the way the author portrayed London and all the characters’ backgrounds. LJ – Ex – VG+ –M It was an interesting balance of the fanciful and the dark; procedural, forensic and scientific. It’s neither Harry Potter, nor Harry Dresden. It was an absolutely delightful, engrossing, and marvelously fun book to read. Definitely want to read more of the series.
Group Rating Average: G+
A KILLING AT COTTON HILL (Trad Mys-Chief Samuel Craddock – Tx – Contemp) – 1st in series – Terry Shames The chief of police of Jarrett Creek, Texas, doubles as the town drunk. So when Dora Lee Parjeter is murdered, her old friend and former police chief Samuel Craddock steps in. Does Craddock still have what it takes to find the killer?
Christine – VG+ - Loved it. Loved the writing, she could follow the plot easily and it wasn’t over the top. She loved every page of it and would definitely read more in the series. Corona – G+ - Really enjoyed it, she did find the character of Craddock a bit sexist, but still she enjoyed them all LJ – VG – Well written with good characters, Shames perfectly captures the sense of a small town without making it trite. Although this would definitely appeal to those who like their mysteries “squeaky clean,” it is was just enough edge to the story to keep it realistic and compelling and not at all trite. Marcy G. – VG – Really liked it; loved the setting. The writing was great and she liked the characters. She doesn’t like cozies and this was definitely not one. She would definitely read another in the series.
Group Rating Average: VG
FORTY DAYS WITHOUT SHADOW (Trad Mys-Klemet Nango-Lapland-Contemp) – 1st book – Olivier Truc Tomorrow, the sun will rise for the first time in 40 days. Thirty minutes of daylight will herald the end of the polar night in Kautokeino, a small village in northern Norway, home to the indigenous Sami people. But in the last hours of darkness, a precious artifact is stolen. Hours later, a man is murdered. Are the two crimes connected?
Linda F – Ex – She loved the setting and the information about the culture. Loved the characters; the plot was exciting and good plot twists. She really liked the female officer.
Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut. But Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter’s ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny. Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.
Brian – Good – Enjoyed it even thought it did get rather ridiculous. It was very entertaining and the author had a lively manner. He would read another by the author
Christine – DNF – She loved the writing and the characters, but she just couldn’t relate to the magic.
Corona – G+ - It was a lot of fun. Reminder her of Butcher’s Harry Dresden series. She would definitely read another.
Linda F – VG – Read it in 2011; she loves fantasy so the book was in her sweet spot. Liked the way the author portrayed London and all the characters’ backgrounds.
LJ – Ex – VG+ –M It was an interesting balance of the fanciful and the dark; procedural, forensic and scientific. It’s neither Harry Potter, nor Harry Dresden. It was an absolutely delightful, engrossing, and marvelously fun book to read. Definitely want to read more of the series.
Group Rating Average: G+
A KILLING AT COTTON HILL (Trad Mys-Chief Samuel Craddock – Tx – Contemp) – 1st in series – Terry Shames
The chief of police of Jarrett Creek, Texas, doubles as the town drunk. So when Dora Lee Parjeter is murdered, her old friend and former police chief Samuel Craddock steps in. Does Craddock still have what it takes to find the killer?
Christine – VG+ - Loved it. Loved the writing, she could follow the plot easily and it wasn’t over the top. She loved every page of it and would definitely read more in the series.
Corona – G+ - Really enjoyed it, she did find the character of Craddock a bit sexist, but still she enjoyed them all
LJ – VG – Well written with good characters, Shames perfectly captures the sense of a small town without making it trite. Although this would definitely appeal to those who like their mysteries “squeaky clean,” it is was just enough edge to the story to keep it realistic and compelling and not at all trite.
Marcy G. – VG – Really liked it; loved the setting. The writing was great and she liked the characters. She doesn’t like cozies and this was definitely not one. She would definitely read another in the series.
Group Rating Average: VG
FORTY DAYS WITHOUT SHADOW (Trad Mys-Klemet Nango-Lapland-Contemp) – 1st book – Olivier Truc
Tomorrow, the sun will rise for the first time in 40 days. Thirty minutes of daylight will herald the end of the polar night in Kautokeino, a small village in northern Norway, home to the indigenous Sami people. But in the last hours of darkness, a precious artifact is stolen. Hours later, a man is murdered. Are the two crimes connected?
Linda F – Ex – She loved the setting and the information about the culture. Loved the characters; the plot was exciting and good plot twists. She really liked the female officer.
Group Rating Average: VG